Machine for numbering and marking bags.



A. B. VASQUEZ.

MBERING AND MARKING BAGS. 'APPLICATION FILED APH. 24. 191e.

MACHINE FOR NU www www. N

mw ww o MN! W www@ n A. B..VASQUEZ. MACHINE Fon NUMBERINGYAND MARKING BAGS.

` APPLICATION FILED APR. 24| |916- 3.934951. l A f Patented July 2.4, 1917.

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A /nu/E/vofr ALFREDO BENT@ VAQUEZ A. B. VASQUEZ. MACHINE FOR NUMBERING AND MARK! NG BAGS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24| 1916.

Patented July 24, 1917.

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v l/l/l/E/I//f ALFREDoBl-:NITO VPQUEZ A. B. VASQUEZ. MACHINE FOR NUMBERING AND MARKING BAGS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. 1916.

Patented July 24, 1917. v v

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ALFREDO Bmw@ VAS@ A. B. VASQUEZ.' MACHINE FOR NUNBENING AND MARKING BAGS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. I9I6. 1,234.5 I I Patented July 24, 1917.

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lNI/E/VTOR FRED@ BENITO VASQULZ MJNN @uw A .mw .ww

IT MR.

TINTE@ STATE@ ALFREDO BENITO VASQUEZ,

OF HABANA7 CUBA.

MACHINE FOR NUMBERING AND MARKING BAGS.

Application filed April 24, 1916.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFREDO BENITO VAS- QUEZ, a citizen of the United States of Amer ica, residing` at No. 142 Amistad street, Habana, Cuba, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Numbering and Marking Bags, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to printing machines and in particular to a machine for numbering bags or sacks and printing thereon identifying matter, such as the brand of goods to be contained therein and the name and address of the producer, the primary object being to improve upon my prior invention which is covered by Cuban Patent No. 2137, dated September 7th, 1914.

rIhe invention disclosed in the said patent comprises a frame having bag feeding means, a rotatable printing drum having printing wheels adapted to consecutively number the bags as they pass through the machine, and means for inking the type faces of the printing Wheels.

rThe improved machine possesses numerous advantages over the previously patented one. In the first place, it is capable of marking and numbering bags of different dimensions, it only being necessary to change some of its component parts for this purpose. By the term marking is meant the printing ofA words upon the bags, as distinguished from numbers. Furthermore, it can mark alone, or number, or can do both operations at the same time. The machine can also be made to repeat the same number an indefinite number of times, when this is desired. In addition to these advantages, it is capable of stacking the bags which have passed through the same at the foot of the machine, or at any distance from the same, or to make a series of stacks or piles positioned equi-distant or at varying distances, according to the desire of the operator. lVith these and other advantages in view, the invention consists specifically in the construction and combination of parts described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters indicate like parts, and in which:

Figure l is an elevation of the left hand side .of the machine, considering the position of the operator when facing the feed end of the machine, the machine being shown partly broken away;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24.-, i917.

Serial No. 93,285.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the right hand side of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the machine;

Fig. 4l is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 5 is a left hand side view of the power transmission mechanism for the rollers of the bag conveyer;

Fig. 6 is a plan View of the transmis sion mechanism for the stacking device, the same being partially broken away;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the printing drum, showing allof the typewheels with the exception of the units wheel in their normal, zero position, the units wheel being in position for printing the 9, with the toothed operating device in its advanced position;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional View on line S-S of Fig. 7; and,

Fig. 9 is a similar view on the line 9 9 of Fig. 7 looking in the opposite direction, but showing the hundreds wheel and the operating device in full lines in the position they will assume just preceding the movementof the three wheels of lowest order into position for printing the numeral 100, the operating device being shown in dotted lines in the succeeding advanced position.

' In the drawings the numeral l designates the frame of the machine, which may be constructed in any suitable form. A transversely extending cylindrical drum 2 is rotatably mounted above the body of the frame upon horizontal trunnions 3, which are journaled in vertical standards 4 rising from the body of the frame. The drum is yprovided in its outer, circumferential wall with longitudinal slots 5 and 6, which are substantially diametrically opposite to each other and are intended for purposes which `will be set forth fully hereinafter.

Both of the trunnions 3 project laterally from the corresponding standards of the frame and a large gear or spur wheel 7 is secured iixedly to the trunnion which protrudes from the right hand side of the machine (see Fig. 4 in particular). This gear meshes with a pinion 8 which is loosely mounted upon a horizontal stub-shaft 9 projecting laterally from the right hand side of the frame l in parallel relation with the axis of the drum 2. The pinion 8 in turn meshes with a smaller pinion 10 which is xedly secured to the drive shaft l1 extending transversely through the frame and journaled in suitable bearings. At the left hand side of the frame, a belt pulley 12 is connected With the drive shaft. This pulley is a clutch pulley and is adapted to be shifted into and out of operative connection with the drive shaft, primarily, by means ofthe hand lever 13. A spring 14C tends normally to maintain the lever 13 in such a position that the pulley clutch Will be inoperative, or disconnected from the drive shaft. The lever 13 is provided adjacent to its pivot 15 with a lateral projection 16, vvhich is adapted` to be engaged by one of the angularly arranged fingers 17 of a pivoted locking member 18 mounted upon the frame of the machine, When the hand lever 13 is in its other position, wherein the pulley clutch is operative. A spring 19 maintains the locking member 18 normally in its operative position just mentioned. This locking member is provided With a handle 2O by means of Which it may be manually operated by a person standing at the left hand side of the machine. From this position the hand lever 13 is also readily accessible for manual operation. -In order that the pulley clutch may be rendered inoperative instantly by a person when at either side of the machine, either under ordinary conditions or to prevent some accident, a foot lever 21 is carried by the frame 1 and is connected by means of a flexible member, such as a cord or the like, 22 With the other finger 23 of the locking member. This flexible member passes around suitable guide pulleys 24C, so that, when the foot lever is depressed by placing a foot upon the pedal 25, force will be exerted upon the last-mentioned finger of the locking member in a downwarddirection, thereby moving the engaging finger 17 into its inoperative position, wherein it is cleared by the projection 16 of the primary operating 'lever 13 for the pulley clutch mechanism. After the lever 1-3 has been released in this manner, the locking member WillV automatically assume its operative position, upon inward movement of the said lever into its operative position, closing the clutch. The pulley 12 is intended to be connected by means of a belt (not shown) with any suitable prime mover (also not shown).

The drum 2 contains the printing element proper, which is composed of a plurality of typeW-heels 26 mounted for independent rotary movement upon the shaft 27, which latter extends axially through the frame, but eccentric Withrespect to its axis. Theopposite ends of the shaft 27 are normally held Within radial slots 28 in the ends of the drum by means of the opposed set screws 29 in such a position that the type faces 30 of each Wheel Will protrude through the slot 6 in the outer drum Wall to an extent Ajust sufhcient for printing purposes. Byadjusting the' screws 29 in opposite directions, the' shaft 27 may Vbe adjusted raing element, the recesses 33 of all of the type Wheels Will be disposed in axial alinement and the type faces bearing the char.- acters O will be situated in operative, -printing position projecting through the drum slot 6. The recess 33 of each type- Wheel is disposed diametrically opposite to the type face representing the printing character 0. The utility of this arrangement Will soonbe apparent.

In providing means for operating therespective type-Wheels of the printing element to bring type faces producing consecutive numerals into operative position in proper sequence of time during the rotation of the printing drum, radial arms 34C are pivotally connected to the shaft 27 adjacent vto the ends of the printing element constituted by the typewheels. These arms project past the peripheries of the typevvheels and are provided at their outer ends With bearings 35 .l

for a rock-shaft 36, which is disposed parallel to the shaft 27. Upon this rock-shaft, a plurality of actuating fingers 37 are fixedly connected and correspond in number to the respective typewheels. Each actuating finger is disposed adjacent to the ratchet of the corresponding typeivheel so that its engaging extremity may operatively engage the teeth of the ratchet'under certain conditions Which Will be described more fully hereinafter. vThe actuating fingers are angular-ly displaced upon the rock-shaft and their relative angular arrangement is such that the engaging extremities thereof establish a spiral imaginary line. The finger for A the units Wheel, which is at the right hand end of the printing element in Fig. 7, is disposed With its engaging extremity the innermost one of the series., It may be stated at this point that the depths of eachv Wheel reu iso of the rock-shaft 36. The ends of the rockshaft are also connected by means of connecting rods 40 with cranks 4l provided upon one section of the crank shaft 42, which shaft is journaled in the printing drum in parallel relation to its axis and exteriorly with respect to the printing element. The throw of each crank 41 is such that, at each revolution of the crank shaft, the rockshaft with its supporting arms 34 will be oscillated through an angle sufficient to advance one or more of the typewheels one step, and then to become retracted. Power is transmitted to the crank shaft 42 by mechanism which will now be described.

The outermost ends of both sections of the crank shaft just mentioned protrude from the opposite ends of the printing drum and a star-wheel 43 is attached fixedly to the protruding` end of that section of the crank shaft which does not bear the crank 41. The points or teeth of this star-wheel are adapted to contact with a plurality of stationary pins 44 which project axially from an annulus 45 which is secured to the standard 4 of the machine frame at the right hand side of the machine. rlhe ratio of the pins 44 to the teeth of the star-wheel is such that the crank shaft 42 in the printing drum will be given a complete rotation during each of its revolutions about the axis of the printing drum in the operation of the machine. A springpressed pawl 46 is mounted vupon the prin ing drum and is operatively associated with the star-wheel 43 to retain the same and permit only step-by-step movement thereof. In order that the printing element may be rendered temporarily inoperative at will, the two sections of the crank shaft 42 are connected together by means of a clutch 47. A clutch-throwing lever 48 is fulcrumed at 49 within the drum and is connected with the inner end of a spring-pressed push button device 50 carried by the drum at one end thereof. The push button normally maintains the clutch in operative position so that the sections of the crank shaft are connected for simultaneous rotation. Then it is desired to open the clutch, it is merely necessary to push the button 50 inwardly, after it has been given a quarter turn, owing to the provision of a key upon the button which is intended to move through a key-way in the drum. After the push button has reached its innermost position, it is given another quarter turn to cause it to be locked by the said key against return movement. Operation of the clutch in this manner will render the printing element inoperative, so that the machine will not number the bags, but will only mark the same with the type faces which are positioned immovably upon the periphery of the drum. These type faces are designated by the numeral 51. When it is desired to number again, it is The printing element proper of the printi ing drum and the operation thereof will now be described further. fn the first place, it should be stated that each typewheel is secured temporarily at the end of each stepby-step movement by means of a retaining pawl 52, which is spring-pressed and is adapted to engage the ratchet teeth of the corresponding typewheel successively during the movement of the wheel about its axis. Now, assuming that the printing element proper is in its normal position with the cypher type faces of all the typewheels in operative, printing position, the engaging extremity of the actuating finger for the unit wheel will be in engagement with the tooth of the ratchet of said wheel which is disposed immediately in rear of its recess 33 (considering the direction of rotation of the wheel). Incidentally, this particular tooth is diametrically opposite to the tooth immediately in rear of the type face which represents the Of7 Assuming also that the printing drum is in its numbering position with its slot 6 disposed lowermost, during` the next succeeding semi-rotation of the drum, the unit wheel will be advanced one step by the actuating finger therefor and the type face l will be brought into operative, printing position. None of the other printing wheels will be affected, since the actuating fingers therefor will all be maintained by the finger for the unit wheel in spaced relation to their respective ratchets. During the next semi-rotation of the drum, the actuating finger for the unit wheel will be retracted for engagement with the next succeeding tooth of the ratchet of the said wheel. At this point, the type faces of the printingelement will be adapted to print the numeral 000001. This is the equivalent of the mere numeral 1. When the said movements of the operating mechanism for the typewheel have been repeated eight times; that is, when the unit type wheel has rotated from l to 9, then the actuating finger for the unit wheel falls into the recess 33 in the ratchet of the said wheel, upon assuming its retracted position. This permits the adjacent actuating finger for the tens wheel to engage the tooth of its ratchet which' is disposed immediately in rear of the recess 33 therein. Consequently, during the next semi-rotation of the drum, both the units and the tens wheels will be advanced one step, thereby bringing the cipher on the unit wheel and the numeral l on the tens wheel to -operative position. The printing element will thus -be adapted to print the numeral 000010. Vhen the actuating fingers are retracted during the next semirotation'of'the drum, the actuating nger for the unit wheel will ride out of the rece'ss 33 of said wheel and will engage the ratchet tooth immediately in rear of vthe said recess, thereby elevating the actuating finger for the tens wheel into inoperative position. During the next eight movements of the operating mechanism for the typewheels, the unit wheel will be advanced from l to 9. Then, the actuating nger for the unit wheel will again fall into the recessof the lcorresponding ratchet, so that, during the next forward movement of this actuating finger, both it and the one for the tens wheel will be-operative and will cause both of these wheels to advance one step, thereby bringing the cipher of the unit wheel and the numeral"2 of the tens wheel into operative position to print the numeral 000020. These operations will be repeated during-the rotation of the drum until the tens wheel has advanced nine steps and the units wheel has thereafteradvanced nine steps. Then, the recesses 33 of both of thesewheels will be disposed in axial alineinent and the corresponding actuating iingers will have dropped into the same, thus bringing the actuating fingen for the hundreds wheel into engagement with the ratchet tooth thereof disposed immediately in rear of the recess 33 therein. At the next semi-rotation of the printing' drum, all threer of these typewheels will be advanced one step, bringing the ciphers on the Vtens andunits wheels into operative position and the numeral 1 on the hundreds wheel into this position. 'The printing element will now' be adapted to print the numeral 000100. When the actuating `fingers are subsequently retracted, the one for the unit wheel will become engaged with the ratchet tooth in rea-r `of its recess 33 and will thus elevate all' of `the remaining actuating fingers into inoperative position. The operations of the actuating fingerswilltbere'peated inthe manner just described until all of the typewheels have finally been brought intooperation. Then, afterthe last typewheel, that for the hundreds of thousands, has moved'nine steps from its normal position, and all of the wheels of lower order have been moved until all of the recesses 33 are in axial alinement, then all of the actuating ngers will fall into corresponding recesses --and the printing element will be adapted to print the numeral999999. At the-next semi-rotation of the p rinting drum, alll of the typewheels-will be advanced one step and the printing element will berready to print the numeral 000000, which represents one million. At this point, the machine will have printed a complete series, of numbers Jfrom one to lone million and will be ready to repeat the series in the same Inanner as before.

It is -to be understood that the typewheels may be' grasped readily by inserting the hand through one end lof the printing drum when it is desired to adjust them manually in order to reprint any desired number.

The' bags to be marked and numbered are fed from a table or feed board 53 positioned at the front of the machine frame. The forward edge of this board overlies a conveyer belt 511, which extends beneath the printing drum and is movably supported upon the front and rear /rollers 55 and 56, which are arranged-upon 'the frame of the machine in advance Vand in rear of the printing drum respectively. The rear lroller 56 is fixedly mounted upon atransverse shaft 57 which isvjournaled in' suitable bearings'carried by the frame. The front roller 55, however, is

journaled between arms 58 which are lixedly secured to a transverse rock-shaft 59 journaled in bearings 60 upon the frame. The arms 58 with the roller carried thereby are yieldably supported in substantially horizontal positionby means of the springs 61. Above'the roller 55, a co-acting roller 62 is journaled vin vertically adjustable bearings 63 which are normally held down by the springs 64. An operating arm 65 projects inwardly from the rock-shaft 59 toward the printing drum and bears,fthrough the medium of an anti-friction roller, against a cam 66, `which is mounted iixedly upon the adjacent trunnion'3 of the drum for rotation therewith. The major portion of the cam is disposed inwardly with respect to the remaining, high portion 67, and both portions are concentric to the drum axis. The roller 55 will be maintained by gravity in its lowermost position, spaced from the companion upper roller 62, during the time that the operating arm 65'is in contact with the low portion of the cam. The high portion of the cam is arranged in such relation to the drum slot 6 that it `.will come into contact with the said operating arm to elevate the roller 55 of the bag conveyer into closer proximity to thetsuperimposed roller. 62 for engagement with the incoming bag vjust before it and the drum slot approach the o bag which maybe supported thereon against the periphery of the printingdrum Vand the type faces thereof, so as to secure a good impression. The said roller is thus necessarily positioned directly beneath the axis of the drum at the impression position,

The conveyer isA driven from the main, drive shaft 11 by transmission mechanism which appear in detail in Fig. 5 of the drawings. A sprocket-wheel 71 is ixedly secured to the shaft 57 of roller 56 and a related sprocket-wheel 72 is secured to the drive shaft 11. A chain 73 passes around these sprocket-wheels and also extends around the idlers 74, 75 and 76, which are carried by the frame of the machine. Idlers 74 and 75 are journaled in an adjustable member 77, which is secured to the frame in adjusted position by means of the clamping bolt 78. By adjusting the member 77, the tension upon the chain 73 may be readily regulated.

The bag conveyer is arranged so that it delivers the printed bags onto an inclined discharge plate 7 9 leading to the stacking device, which will be described fully hereinafter.

The inking device for the printing drum is comprised essentially of a hopper or fountain 80, the mixing roller 81, and the train of auxiliary, inking rollers 82, 83 and 84. The mixing roller is driven from the drum trunnions by means of the sprockets 85 and 86 and chain 87. It rotates continuously,

`mixing the ink and maintaining it soft. The

iiow of ink is regulated by the plates 88 and thumb screws 89 of the fountain. The inking roller 81 is in constant contact with the type faces of the printing drum and its shaft has cylindrical cams 90 near the ends thereof, which roll upon the periphery of the drum. These cams have oppositely inclined inner end faces 91 for operative engagement with collars 92 which are fixed on the shaft of roller 83, whereby the latter is reciprocated axially during its rotation, as caused by peripheral contact with the roller 811-.. This axial movement of the roller 83 causes the ink which it supplies to roller 84 to be distributed evenly upon the latter. The roller 82 transmits ink from the mixing roller 81 to distributing roller 83, but it performs this function intermittently, since its shaft is acted upon by cams 93 carried by the shaft of the distributing roller. These cams cause the roller 82 to contact with the mixing` and distributing rollers alternately. The roller 82 is rotated solely through contact with either of the last-mentioned rollers.

The stacking device will now be described. Journaled in bearings provided on a rearward extension 94 of the machine frame are two parallel pairs of short shaft sections 95 and 96. The sections of each pair are in precise alinement with'each other and have sprocket-wheels 97 upon their inner ends. Conveyer chains 98 are operatively engaged with the sprockets .of corresponding shaft vsections of both pairs, kand are thus disposed at the opposite sides of the machine and extend from front to rear in substantially parallel relation to each other.

The outer end 0f each section of shaft 95 is provided with a sprocket-wheel 99, which is connected by chain 100 with a sprocketwheel 101 on a shaft 102 journaled in the main frame of the machine. Another sprocket-wheel 103 on shaft 102 is connected by a chain 104 with a sprocket 105 carried by one member 106 of a friction clutch on shaft 57. rhis clutch member is loosely mounted on the shaft 57 and is pressed against a co-acting clutch member 107 by spring 108. The last mentioned clutch member is xed upon the shaft 57, so is adapted normally to transmit motion from said shaft to the clutch member 106, but affords an impositive drive for the conveyer chains of the stacking device.

A number of transversely extending bag carriers 109 (two in the present instance,) are connected at their opposite ends with the conveyer chains 98 for translatory movement therewith. The carriers are preferably situated as far apart longitudinally on the chains as possible, and they are provided adjacent to their opposite ends with pivoted fingers or grippers 110. These grippers are normally maintained in closed, operative position, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings by means of springs 111. An arm 112 projecting from each gripper is adapted to contact with a gripping cam 113 mounted stationarily in the machine frame, whereby the grippers are opened just before the corresponding bag carrier reaches its catching position below the discharge plate 79.

In order that either bag carrier may be retained in catching position, with its grippers open, until a bag has fallen onto the same, a hook member 114: in the form of a lever is pivotally mounted on the machine frame and is maintained by the spring 115 normally in operative position wherein it will engage the bag carrier automatically upon arrival at catching position. A releasing lever 116, which is operatively connected with the hook 114, has an arm situated normally in the path of movement of an actuating projection 117 provided on the printing drum 2. This projection is timed so that it will strike the lever 116 and trip the hook 114 at the proper moment. The said hook is permitted to check the movement of the bag carriers in the manner described, owing to the impositive drive action afforded by the clutch members 106 and 107.

When a bag has fallen upon one of the bag carriers, it will have just resumed its normal movement and the grippers will now be released so as to grip the bag, which is carried along to a position directly above the place upon the floor where a pile is to be, or has been, made. At this point, the grippers are opened by contact with the tripping cams 118 Carried by the frame extension 94C. Upon being released, each bag will fall outstretched upon the'pile.

I-Iaving thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent of the United States of America is:

1. In a machine for marking and numbering bags, the combination of printing-means, bag feeding means, and a stacking device including a conveyer, bag carriers provided on the said conveyer and having grippers adapted to grip the printed bags as they are successively received from the bag feeding means, means for normally maintaining the grippers of each bag carrier in closed position, means for opening the grippers of each carrier as the latter arrives at its bag receiving .position in operative relation to the bag feeding mea-ns and forsubsequently releasing the said grippers, means for opening the grippers of each Vbag carrier as the latter reaches its stacking position, impositive driving means for the said conveyer, means for checking the movement of the conveyer as each bag carrier arrives at its bag receiving position, and means timed by the movement of the bag feeding means' for releasing the said checking means at the `moment of discharge of a bag from the said feeding means onto the said bagvcarrier.

2. In a ymachine for marking and numbering bags, the combination of a stationary frame, a printing drum journaled in the frame and provided on its periphery with type faces and having a longitudinal slot in its peripheral wall, bag feeding means associated with the drum, a numbering element mounted in the drum, and consisting of an axial shaft mounted for radial adjustment in the drum, a plurality of type wheels mounted upon Cthe shaft for independent adjustment and adapted normally to have their type faces project through the drum slots in operative, printing position, means for adjusting the said shaft Within the drum and for securing it in adjusted position, an operating device for the type wheels movably associated therewith, an operating crank shaft for the said operating device, a connecting rod connecting Athe crank of said shaft with the operating device, the said `crank shaft being composed of two sections, one of said sections being free from connection from the said connecting rod andprojecting exteriorly from the' drum, a clutch device adapted to connect the said shaft sections together for movement, means by which the said? clutch may be shifted, actuating means provided upon the eXteriorly projecting shaft section, and means vcarried by the frame for coperating with the last-named means to .rotate the said shaft sections during rotation of the drum.

3- In a machine for marking and numbering bags,vthe combination of printing means, bag feeding means, and a stacking device including a conveyer, bag carriers provided on the said conveyer and having` grippers adapted to grip the rinted bags as they are successively receivec from the bagl feeding means, means for normally maintaining the grippers of each bag carrier in closed position, means lfor opening the grippers of each carrier as the latter arrives at its bag receiving position in operative relation to .the bag feeding means and for subsequently releasing the said grippers, means foropening the grippers ofeach bag carrier as the latter reaches its stacking position, impositive driving means for the said conveyer, a releasable stop memberk adapted normally to -project into the path of the bag carriers for `check- Y ing engagement with each carrier upon arrival at its bag receiving position, releasing means for the said stop member including a movable actuating member, and a trip `device provided on the printing means vand adapted to operatively engage Athe said actuating member at the moment of discharge of a bag from the said feeding means onto the said bag carrier. Y

In testimony whereof I `have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFREDO BENITO Vvasormz,

Witnesses RAOUL F. WASHINGTON, LYMAN A. CHRISTY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

